even with john boehner were to come to obama with a deal, john boehner is being held host and by members of his own caucus who won't let him do that. boehner can work with democrats to get it passnd and throw some of his support with the democrats to get it passed but the problem for john boehner is he has an election coming up for his own leadership position on january 3 and he is afraid to do that. >> laura: again, and i understand why julie is saying this because the republicans don't have a ton of leverage here, stephen. >> they don't. >> they have very little leverage. >> all of the taxes go up, lawyer, a as you know, on january 2. >> is it that bad for president obama if we go over the cliff, oh, throw the nation into recession and lose all these jobs but he views everything through a political lens does he not? >> he does. >> laura: i think they made the calculation this won't hurt them one bit and they have gotten the peg on the tea he party and boehner or something. >> the president has said that by the way of the negotiations and john boehner made the statement the other day th